stilbenes and Cicatrix

The aim of the study was to examine the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/70S6K signaling pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts and the effects of resveratrol (Res) intervention. The mTOR and 70S6K in pathological scar and normal skin fibroblasts were detected by immunofluorescence following treatment with different concentrations of Res. RT-PCR and western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of mTOR and 70S6K mRNA and protein, respectively. Immunofluorescence showed that the expression of 70S6K and mTOR was significantly enhanced in pathological scar fibroblasts, and mainly expressed in the nucleus, but not in normal skin fibroblasts. RT-PCR and western blot analysis showed that after different concentrations of Res treatments, the mTOR and 70S6K mRNA and protein expression significantly (P<0.05) decreased in a dose‑dependent manner. In conclusion, the expression of mTOR/70S6K signaling pathway in pathological scar fibroblasts was significantly enhanced. Res can downregulate the expression of mTOR and 70S6K to achieve the inhibition of pathological scar fibroblast proliferation.

Topics: Cicatrix; Female; Fibroblasts; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Humans; Male; Resveratrol; Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa; Signal Transduction; Stilbenes; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of resveratrol (Res) treatment on pathological scar fibroblasts and the changes in TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway. For this purpose, cultured pathological scar fibroblasts were treated with various concentrations of Res (10, 50, and, 100 µmol/l), and the morphological changes in target cells were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cellular proliferation was assessed by MTT assay; the mRNA and protein expressions of TGF-β1 and Smad-2,3,4,7 were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence assay, respectively. We found that Res-treated fibroblasts exhibited the typical apoptotic morphological changes. As shown by MTT assay, the OD values of Res-treated fibroblasts, as a measure of cell growth, were significantly lower than those of controls (P < 0.05). In addition, as compared to controls, TGF-β1 and Smad-2,3,4 mRNA/protein expression decreased but those of Smad7 increased in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). It was, therefore, concluded that Res treatment inhibited the pathological scar fibroblast proliferation and induced cell apoptosis through the mechanism involving downregulation of TGF-β1, Smad-2,3,4, and upregulation of Smad7.

Topics: Apoptosis; Cell Proliferation; Cicatrix; Fibroblasts; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Resveratrol; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Smad Proteins; Stilbenes; Transforming Growth Factor beta1